Title: “BIG3 Showdown: Miami 305 vs. Chicago Triplets — A Battle for Supremacy”
The energy was thick inside the packed arena in Dallas, where fans from across the country gathered for the most anticipated clash of the BIG3 season: Lance Stephenson’s Miami 305 against Montrezl Harrell’s Chicago Triplets. First versus second. Swagger versus power. And by the time the ball tipped, it felt less like a basketball game and more like a heavyweight title fight.
Stephenson, the flamboyant leader of Miami 305, entered with his trademark confidence—headphones on, eyes locked in, and a calm smirk that masked his storm. His squad, undefeated and fearless, had bullied their way to the top of the standings with relentless defense and pure shot-making artistry. Stephenson himself was averaging 16 points and 7 boards per game, orchestrating each possession like a conductor on a warpath.
But the Triplets weren’t afraid of Miami’s momentum. They had Montrezl Harrell—an absolute beast in the post, whose recent 22-point, 10-rebound performance against the Ghost Ballers had turned heads across the league. Since joining the BIG3, Harrell’s energy hadn’t dropped a notch from his NBA days. Every rebound, every putback, every flex felt like a statement: We’re coming.
From the opening tip, it was clear this would be no ordinary game. The first possession saw Stephenson shake his defender with a killer crossover before draining a step-back four-pointer from the right wing, igniting the crowd and sending a message. Harrell responded on the next play, sealing deep in the paint, muscling through contact, and slamming it home with a roar that echoed through the arena.
The battle lines were drawn: finesse versus force.
Miami 305’s Jason Richardson hit a corner three to stretch the early lead to 9–3, but the Triplets clawed back with gritty defense. Joe Johnson—still silky, still cold-blooded—hit a pair of mid-range fadeaways, and suddenly Chicago was up 21–20 at halftime.
During the break, Stephenson paced the bench, towel over his head, talking strategy while bouncing an imaginary ball. “We go now,” he said to his teammates. “We finish this.”
The second half turned into a classic BIG3 duel. Harrell bullied his way to the line, drawing double teams and kicking out to Alan Anderson for two straight threes. But Miami wouldn’t flinch. Stephenson ran the offense with surgical precision, dishing dimes to big man Greg Monroe and creating his own shots when needed.
With the score tied at 47, both teams just three points from the 50-point win mark, it came down to one possession. Stephenson called for an iso at the top of the key. He waved off the screen, stared down Johnson, dribbled behind his back, and launched a deep three.
Bang.
Final: Miami 305 – 50, Chicago Triplets – 47.
Stephenson let out a primal scream, arms wide to the crowd. “We run this league!” he shouted, as his teammates mobbed him at center court.
BIG3 founder Ice Cube, watching from courtside, simply nodded in approval. “That’s what the BIG3 is about,” he said later. “Real basketball. Real pride. Real rivalries.”
This clash won’t be the last. But for now, Miami 305 remains king of the hill—and Lance Stephenson has once again proven he’s more than just a highlight reel. He’s a leader. A closer. And the heartbeat of a team that might just run the table.
